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Shortly after Ji Chi left, Ning Zhu’s secretary indeed delivered an invitation from the Ren family.

Secretary Xia, also an Omega, was highly competent and trusted by Ning Zhu. She had been tasked with locating potential pheromone matches earlier.

Upon learning that Ning Zhu intended to accept, Secretary Xia’s expression flickered with hesitation.

However, he said nothing further, placed the invitation down, and proceeded to report to Ning Zhu.

The birthday banquet was scheduled for midday several days later, coinciding with a weekend. Xiao Tao had cleverly arranged Ning Zhu’s hospital check-up for that very morning. Thus, before attending the banquet, Ning Zhu visited the hospital to see Wei Tingfeng.

Wei Tingfeng conducted a thorough examination and reviewed the lab reports.

“All readings remain significantly above normal—not encouraging. Yet your pheromone levels are actually more stable than after your last inhibitor injection.” He closed the report, puzzled by the outcome. “Have you done anything unusual lately? Taken any special medication?”

Special medication…

Ning Zhu immediately thought of a certain coconut-scented Alpha.

It had been over half a month since he unexpectedly caught a whiff of Dou Changxiao’s pheromones, and he hadn’t expected the effect to last this long.

He said regretfully, “I encountered an Alpha recently and accidentally caught his pheromones. Since then, the pain in my glands has lessened, and my pheromone levels probably started stabilizing around that time.”

“You’re serious?” Wei Tingfeng’s voice rose an octave.

Ning Zhu saw right through his thoughts and waved his hand. “I know what you’re thinking. I suspect my compatibility with him might be pretty high, too. He works as a host in a nightclub, so I casually suggested buying his pheromones and having him mark me.“

When Wei Tingfeng heard Ning Zhu say ”having him mark me“ without batting an eye, his expression suddenly froze: ”……”

As a doctor in the glandular department, hearing patients discuss such matters was routine for him. Yet none had ever been as blunt and matter-of-fact as Ning Zhu.

Wei Tingfeng found himself unusually distracted at work. Instead of immediately checking the Alpha’s pheromone dosage, he asked an unrelated question: “Ahem, you… Just said that to him like that?”

“Yeah.”

Ning Zhu looked up and saw Wei Tingfeng’s peculiar expression—his face was even slightly flushed. “What?”

“…Nothing.” Wei Tingfeng cleared his throat.

As an Omega himself, he’d never dream of demanding a stranger Alpha mark him.

“So what happened?”

“It was a bit complicated,” Ning Zhu said gloomily. “Anyway, it fell through…”

“Fell through!?”

Wei Tingfeng frowned deeply. “Did you not offer enough money? Whatever they demanded, your current wealth should easily cover it. Over all these years, you’ve only found two Alphas with compatibility barely exceeding 90%, and neither worked for your treatment. Opportunities like this are once-in-a-lifetime. No matter what it takes, you should have clung desperately to that lifeline.”

Ning Zhu sighed. “It’s ruined, it’s ruined. Can’t the suppressant hold out a little longer? Let’s just wait for the matching database results.”

“You…”

Ning Zhu rolled up his sleeve to reveal his watch. “I’ve got something to do at noon. I gotta go. Don’t worry, I’ve got this under control.”

With that, he briskly slipped out of the consultation room, paying no heed to the others’ reaction.

The moment the door closed, it effectively muffled Wei Tingfeng’s stifled curse outside.

The birthday banquet was held at a renowned restaurant in North City. The driver dropped Ning Zhu off at the venue.

Over half the attendees in the banquet hall were business figures. Upon arrival, they all headed to the front hall to chat and offer congratulations to the guest of honor, Ren Hongyuan. Ren Shaokun stood beside his father. After exchanging greetings with the guests, they invariably showered the birthday boy’s son with praise.

Ren Shaokun was accustomed to this fawning, considering himself superior to this crowd. He stood nearby, chin up, hands in pockets, indifferent. Only when Ren Hongyuan occasionally frowned and shot him a look would he deign to offer a condescending half-smile to the guests.

“Mr. Ren,” the next well-wisher’s voice sounded strikingly young, jarringly out of place among the sea of successful individuals past fifty.

Ren Shaokun glanced up at the newcomer. Recognizing the face, his expression abruptly hardened.

“Oh, young master Ren is here too,” Ning Zhu said, his eyes crinkling in a smile.

Ren Shaokun’s face darkened. “…Ning Zhu?”

“Long time no see. Young Master Ren actually remembers my name.”

Ren Shaokun couldn’t forget even if he wanted to.

Back in high school, he’d had a falling out with Ning Zhu. He’d secretly hired people to teach the other guy a lesson several times. He never expected that penniless kid would end up getting involved with Cheng Li. During that period, his family’s business repeatedly hit snags. After his father investigated, he discovered the Cheng family had been meddling behind the scenes.

For this, Ren Shaokun endured frequent beatings and scoldings from his father. Coupled with his stepmother whispering in Ren Hongyuan’s ear, he was sent abroad by Ren Hongyuan to prevent him from causing further trouble.

Though the Ren family provided him with superior material conditions and he lived comfortably abroad, the thought that he’d been sent away because of a powerless Omega made Ren Shaokun unable to swallow his pride.

He stared coldly at Ning Zhu: “What are you doing here?”

Ning Zhu raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise: “To celebrate a birthday, of course. Didn’t Chairman Ren personally send the invitation to Qisheng headquarters? Naturally, I must honor the invitation.“

Ren Hongyuan hadn’t expected Ning Zhu to actually accept the invitation. Yet as a seasoned veteran nearing sixty, he didn’t wear his emotions on his sleeve like Ren Shaokun. The wrinkles of age around his eyes remained unchanged as he said, ”I extended the invitation to President Ning. Young Mr. Ning is so accomplished at such a young age. That he would come to celebrate this old man’s birthday is truly unexpected. Shaokun, escort Mr. Ning to the main table.”

Ren Shaokun stood frozen, his legs planted like stakes, not moving an inch.

Ren Hongyuan shot him a warning glance. Ren Shaokun gritted his teeth in frustration and turned toward the main table.

After taking his seat, Ning Zhu didn’t glance at Ren Shaokun once. He simply adjusted his attire with such composure that he seemed entirely at home—more at ease than Ren Shaokun himself.

Ren Shaokun couldn’t stand this demeanor. He raised his hand to slam it on the table, ready to explode, but Ren Hongyuan’s sudden call halted him.

Ren Hongyuan led him into a private room, turning back coldly. “What do you think you’re doing? Planning to cause trouble at your father’s birthday banquet?!”

“…”

“What else can you do besides stir up trouble? We sent you abroad for years to polish your skills, but your temper hasn’t mellowed one bit. Frankly, your younger brother seems more level-headed than you.”

Ren Shaokun remained silent, his face grim.

Noting his resentment, Ren Hongyuan snorted coldly. “I don’t care what grudges you hold against that Ning fellow. But now Qisheng is a force to rival the Rens. And he has Cheng Li by his side—people you can’t afford to provoke.”

Ren Hongyuan narrowed his eyes. “Some of my partners who’ve dealt with Ning Zhu privately say he’s actually quite reasonable. Find an opportunity to make amends with that Ning fellow. Schoolyard grudges are easily resolved. Don’t drag the company down over your petty feud with him.”

Ren Shaokun: “…………”

He hadn’t overturned Ning’s table, which was already showing him considerable face. Now he was supposed to beg for mercy and show goodwill?

The man he once trampled underfoot had now risen to power, turning the tables and making him the one to fear. Ren Shaokun cursed inwardly, but dared not defy his father openly. Only after Ren Hongyuan left the private room to return to the banquet hall to greet guests did he kick the door violently in frustration.

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Ning Zhu had risen from his chair the moment Ren Shaokun was summoned.

The morning lab tests required fasting, so Ning Zhu had eaten nothing before coming to the banquet. Refreshments were set up on both sides of the banquet hall. He got up and made his way around, picking two fruit tarts to nibble on. After biting off the last piece of tart crust, he turned toward the beverage area, intending to casually pick a drink from the array of meticulously crafted cocktails. But his peripheral vision caught a pyramid of fresh coconuts stacked in the corner.

…Ning Zhu couldn’t resist grabbing one for himself.

He casually plopped down at a nearby seat, facing the banquet hall’s entranceway.

Bored, Ning Zhu watched the stream of people coming and going, taking a sip of coconut juice.

The coconut water was refreshingly sweet and quenched his thirst, but whether his memory had been embellished or not, Ning Zhu felt Dou Changxiao’s pheromones tasted sweeter and more complex, and inexplicably gave him a sense of security. Perhaps it had something to do with the timing of its appearance.

He raised his hand to lightly stroke the collar around his neck, suddenly missing that scent.

Throughout his life, Ning Zhu had rarely regretted his decisions. Yet this time, he couldn’t help questioning whether letting Dou Changxiao go that day had been too rash.

Lost in thought, a muscular Alpha entered from the banquet hall entrance. Though he wore a suit and sported a broad smile, his demeanor still carried a palpable ferocity. Ning Zhu recognized the Alpha. After a moment of searching his memory, his brow furrowed.

He was one of the bodies left sprawled on the floor that night. What did that group call him again… Oh, Brother Lei.

How long had he even been locked up before getting released?

Brother Lei happened to turn his head just then. Spotting Ning Zhu sitting not far away, he froze for a few seconds before his temper flared up instantly.

After the last incident, he’d been detained for half a month. Upon release, he’d been blacklisted by that nightclub, losing all face within the circle.

He’d been itching for someone to take it out on when this Omega practically walked right into his trap.

Ning Zhu didn’t flinch under his scrutiny, his lips curving into a faint, ambiguous smile. Brother Lei was furious at that expression, his face darkening as he glared at Ning Zhu.

A cold voice cut through the tension from behind: “Move aside. You’re blocking the way.”

Brother Lei was already seething, and this impatient demand struck his fuse directly.

He whipped around to see which fool had dared interrupt, only to lock eyes with another familiar face.

Dou Changxiao’s eyelids were half-lowered, his pitch-black pupils gazing down at him without a flicker of warmth.

Brother Lei: “…”

Fuck.

How the hell is he here too?!

Memories of being knocked flat with a single punch last time resurfaced, sending an involuntary shiver through Brother Lei.

Whether it was good or bad luck, at his first banquet after release, both of his enemies were present.

Last time, four against one hadn’t been enough to win. How could he possibly stand a chance alone?

Brother Lei seethed inwardly but dared not act now. Gritting his teeth, he shot Dou Changxiao a hateful glance before turning to enter the venue.

With the obstacle blocking his path gone, Dou Changxiao sensed a gaze fixed on him from nearby.

He glanced sideways to see Ning Zhu waving at him with exaggerated gestures.

Dou Changxiao’s first glance landed on Ning Zhu’s raised right hand.

Then he saw the other’s beaming smile.

“…”

As his gaze drifted downward and met the coconut clutched in Ning Zhu’s left hand, Dou Changxiao’s body froze abruptly for a split second.